RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

.300 Wby. Mag.; .30-378 Wby. Mag.; .340 Wby. Mag. .338-378 Wby. Mag. Good luck.

Edited by - handloader1 on 12/23/2002 00:24:53

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

I am surprised! No one mentioned the good old .375 H&H ~ believed by many to be one of the greatest all-around cartridges.

I am a big believer in the theory that when you consider an all-around number, your first order of business should be to make it suitable for the biggest and more dangerous ~ and then work your way down. Along these lines, I'd first think of what I would want to be armed with if confronted by a big, angry bear, a southbound trophy elk, or large moose. And then I would see if my choice would also apply to lesser game in easier conditions.

For my money, I would never want to face a grizzly with anything less. Loaded with 300-gr Winchester Fail Safes, the .375 has all the requisites for the job ~ plus, it shoots flat enough for any reasonable shot inside of 300-350 yards.

A .375 H&H will have the penetration and the stopping power to make me sleep easy in Grizzly or brownie country. It will also allow me to make difficult shots at elk ~ such as a tricky quartering-away raking shot at a once in a lifetime trophy.

Loaded with 270-grainers, it will have roughly the same flat trajectory as a 300 Win Mag with 180's. With a 200-yard zero, it will be only 1" lower at 300 than the 300 Win, placing it at 8" rather than 7". Big whoop. But it will be still packing close to 3000 ft/lbs ~ which is a lot of bang in return for a lost inch.

I have taken many heads of game with the .375, and the more I use it (yes, even on small does), the more I love it. I never found it lacking, I never had to pass up shots (I never shoot too far anyway, no matter if I had the proverbial "death-ray" in my hands) and I never ruined meat.

The reality is that the .375 will absolutely flatten game, with surprisingly little meat damage ~ something it has done reliably for 91 years.

So, my ideal all-around rig for the conditions described by MT Boy is as follows:

~Sako 75 Hunter or Win mod. 70 Express in .375 H&H - weighing in (fully dressed) at about 9.5lbs.

~Schmidt & Bender (or Leupold) 4x36 fixed power scope.

~Brownell's latigo sling.

~Swarovski EL-series 8.5X42 binocular.

~Hornady Heavy Magnum 270-grain load - handloaded 300-gr Win Fail Safe (pushed at about 2550fps).

I believe in this setup, because I have chosen it many times, and it has always worked. There may be other fine choices, no doubt. But this is what would be (and has been) my pick.

In friendship,

Tom

Edited by - .333 Nitro Express on 12/24/2002 09:32:38

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

I'm giving my vote to the .375 H&H, sure it isn't as flat shooting as some smaller rounds like the .300 mags or .338 mags, but when most hunting shots are taken under 150yrds, you just don't need it, and if the hunter becomes the hunted, you can easily defend yourself.

If you're really thinking about defending yourself while hunting, I'd actually throw in my usual monkey in the wrench.... the .45-70. Not really fast or flat shooting, but good enough trajectory for 150 yrd shots, and more than enough stank hangin on impact to do the deed, plus, you'd probably get it in a lever action, which will cycle faster than a bolt if ever you should need it.

Screw the 10 ring, keep them in the zero!!!

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

How about a 8mm rem mag or a 358 STA. Should be more than enough for anything that walks in NA.

Brian

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

.50 BMG bolt action is all you need. enough said

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

Half a line 'n not enuff said! 50 BMG gots the most power sur enuff, but pow'rs gots to be usable ta hunt wit'. How fer you goin' to hunt from yer pickup wit' that 22 poun' rifle or you countin' on the game beddin' down by the side of the road? Plannin' to carry a tripod with you or leave it to yer safari porters? USA retired its three battleships, sure you don't want to use an 18 inch gun from one o' them? 2600 pound rounds is mighty appealin'.

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

i live and hunt where the game can bite back griz,cougar,and now those damn wolves.
i hunt many animals and log excessive hours in the wilderness around the park (yellowstone)and a bolt action browning .270 suits me just fine
some might say i am under gunned. but i aint been eaten yet.;

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

375HH. I love this caliber powerful, flat, and long reaching with very managable recoil! You'll find the most reloading books giving the same vote - seems like those boys shoot a lot. However, there is a new boy on the block, the 375 Ultramag, that may be a new challenger. "All round" covers a lot of territory including some very large and mean (can bite back) critters - daddy's deer gun won't do it.

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

The 338 is the best all around gun for Alaskan big game.

RE: BEST BIG GAME (w/ Fangs) RIFLE
 

My 300 Win Mag worked just fine in Alaska